ECONOMY: “From the perspective of those directly affected by the collapse of the real estate markets or from those who are currently without jobs, we are certainly in a recession. The brokerage houses that were fueling the crisis played fast and loose with all of the rules regarding the granting of mortgages.

“In general, I’m against bailouts for corporations, especially if the need is based on imprudent business practices. ... The U.S. government should facilitate refinancing and rehabilitate the loans as it takes over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“I propose any future economic stimulus be structured so that it would be spent on addressing our infrastructure needs.”

ENERGY: “(We need) a systematic analysis based on our long-term energy needs, the inescapable knowledge that the cheap oil era is coming to an end, and the imperatives dictated by the certainty of global climate change.

HEALTH CARE: “I support a single-payer’ government-financed health-care system like our own Medicare system or the systems in Canada, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and many other nations. The U.S. is the only country in the western world where individuals can go bankrupt because of medical bills.”

IRAQ WAR/NATIONAL

DEFENSE: “ Certainly, as long as we maintain our stance in the world of ‘them vs. us,’ the 800-pound gorilla vs. the axis of evil, we will continue to exacerbate the situation, inflame the tensions and will remain more vulnerable.

“Rather than increasing troop strength in these areas, we should work on building schools and infrastructure, building security by winning the heart and minds of the people and meeting their basic needs.”

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